Drought as an intermittent disturbance of the water cycle interacts with the carbon cycle differently than
the ‘gradual’ climate change. During drought plants respond physiologically and structurally to prevent
excessive water loss according to species-specific water use strategies. This has consequences for carbon
uptake by photosynthesis and release by total ecosystem respiration. After a drought the disturbances
in the reservoirs of moisture, organic matter and nutrients in the soil and carbohydrates in plants lead
to longer-term effects in plant carbon cycling, and potentially mortality. Direct and carry-over effects,
mortality and consequently species competition in response to drought are strongly related to the survival
strategies of species. Here we review the state of the art of the understanding of the relation between
soil moisture drought and the interactions with the carbon cycle of the terrestrial ecosystems. We argue
that plant strategies must be given an adequate role in global vegetation models if the effects of drought
on the carbon cycle are to be described in a way that justifies the interacting processes.